Automatic record changing phonograph



March 20, 1951 A. E. RISTAU ETAL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 INVENTOR. 6? BY m a H r raw/55545.

March 20, 1951 A. E. RISTAU ETAL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 INVENTOR. i

March 20, 1951 A. E. RISTAU ElAL AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING PHONOGRAPH 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 March 20, 1951 A. E. RISTAU ETAL 2,546,136

AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. C? 6. 4

ATTORNEY/15'.

Patented Mar. 20, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,546,136 AUTOMATIC RECORD CHANGING PHONOGRAPH Arnold E. Ristau and Alfred G. Bistall, Kan-.-

kauna, Wis., assignors to Rista'ucrat, Inc., Kailkauna, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 2, 1946, Serial No. 688,064

6 Glaims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in automatic record changing phonographs.

The invention relates in general to that type of phonograph wherein a stack of records may be inserted to be played in sequence with the changing of the records being accomplished automatically. Often-times, if the records comprising a stack can be played over and over again, this will sufiice for an evenings entertainment. With the usual type of machine, however, after each record in the stack has been played once, then the records must be manually transferred to their original position if it is desired to have them replayed.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide relatively simple mechanism capable of use in a relatively inexpensive type of automatic phonograph, and automatically operable after the last record in a stack has been played for shifting the entire stack to a position Where the records may be replayed.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide in a device as above described a record shifting irame so constructed and arranged that theedges of the records the stack will clear the record supporting device on the upswing and so that on the downs-wing an edge portion of thel'owermostrecord in the stack will be intercepted by said supporting device.-

further, more specific object of the invention: is toprovide novel push-off.mechanism to thereby insure proper pusheofi action .of one recrd without affecting the record thereabove.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for interchangeably adapting the machine for either or 12 inch records.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism including a. clutch for controlling the driving ofv the tone arm moving mechanism and the driving of the record push-off device, said latter mechanism and device including cams of novelshape for accomplishing the desired movements ,at predetermined times in the cycleof operation there preferably being a brake in con.- nect on ith t o e arm wh ch is ec ve a a p t rm ned ime t en t e t ne a m from swinging too freely. I

A u t e e s ecificieet 9 t n e t n s to P vid dr n h n m h ch i shiitable in one direction to operate the tone arm and record pushroff. devices and which is shiftable in the opposite direction to cause operation of the stack shifting frame, there being a novel trip-off device for shifting the driving in o or 9 1 of n ut l r from o side in the th A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism for positively preventing movement of the shiftable driving mechanism toward the stack shifting side at an improper time in the cycle of operation.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved automatic record changing phonograph, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview ofthe' device,showing the stack shifting mechanism in an elevated position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view looking principally at the bottom of the device to show the mechanism beneath the table;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the tripoii mechanism taken approximately along the line'3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of said tripofi mechanism looking at the opposite side and taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view looking at the bottom of the table, as in Fig. 2, and illustrating the controls for the tone arm and record dropping devices;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section showing the stack-supporting and record pushofi mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the mechanism for raising and lowering the tone and; v

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig.6;

Fig. 9 is a fragmen ajl'y Sectional view taken along the line 99 of-Fig. -1

Fig. 10 is a partially diagrammatic view of parts of the trip-off mechanism of'F i'g'. 4 showing the parts in neutral position;

Fig; '11 isa view similar to Fig. 10 showing the a t in tripped p si pm i Fig. i2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the outer cam andits followerf v Fig. i3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the inner cam and its followerf w Fig. 14 is a sectionalview takenapproximately on the line i4l4 of Fig. "7 and showing the brake in off position} i Fi 5 is a v ew milarlio I4 sh w h brake in on position; and

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary detail view taken on the line l5i 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l5 designates a suitable table which may be supported on legs I 6, or in any other suitable manner, within a cabinet.

Secured to the lower side of the table (see Fig. 2) is an electric motor 41 which through suitable gearing drives a vertical shaft 18. There is a spindle 19, which is non-rotatably supported above the table. The spindle has an intermediately located bowed portion 25 separated by a horizontal shoulder 2i from a straight top portion 22. Rotatably supported on top of the table I5 and operated by the motor I! is a turntable 23.

Beneath the table, referring again to Fig. 2, the shaft 18 is formed witha rigidly mounted worm 24 which meshes with a worm Wheel 25 rigidly mounted on a shifting shaft 25. The shaft 26 is slidable in bearings formed in brackets 21 and 28 and has its ends in the form of clutch parts. When the shaft 26 is in the position of Fig. 2, the clutch 29 at one end is in engagement. This clutch will be termed the normal operating clutch.

When the shaft 26 is shifted in the opposite direction, the stack reloading clutch 35 is engaged and. the clutch 29 is disengaged. If the shaft 26 is in an intermediate or neutral position, both of the clutches are disengaged. In any position of the shaft 25 the worm wheel 25 is in driving engagement with the worm 24.

The shaft 3! is formed with a rigidly mounted bevel gear 32 which meshes with a bevel gear 33 mounted on a vertical stud 34. The stud 34 carries .an inner or tonearm swinging cam 35 close to the bottom of the table l5 and an outer or record controlling cam 35 (see Figs. 5, 12 and 13). The cam 35 co-acts with a follower 31 carried by an intermediate portion of a tone arm swinging lever 38. The lever 38 is pivotally mounted at one end, as at 59, and has its other end movablein a slot 45 of a bracket 6|. The bracket 4| is angular in cross section and has a base part formed with a slot 82 through which a screw 43 extends to adjustably connect the bracket to the underside of the table i 5. B moving the bracket in one direction or the other, the position of a stop shoulder 45 may be varied for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Projecting laterally from the pivoted arm 38 is a lug 45 having a slot 45 through which a screw 41 extends. The screw projects from an adjustment plate 41 which may be moved transversely when the screw is loosened.

Pivoted, as at 48, to the lever 33, is a link 49. The link 49 has a portion of reduced width which extends slidably beneath a bridging portion of a bridge 53 (see Figs. 3 and i). The outer end of the link 49 has an offset portion 5| formed with a slot 52. A pivot pin 50 extends loosely through the slot and pivotally connects the link 49 to an arm 54 projecting from the lower end of a sleeve 55 surrounding a shaft 56. The slot 52 allows the arm 54 to travel the length of the slot while the record is being played.

The sleeve 55 extends rotatably through the table l5 and rotatably through a supporting post 51 (see Fig. 7). Also a slight amount of axial movement is permitted as is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. The extreme upper end of the sleeve 55 extends into and is rigidly connected to a rotatable cap 58. Pivoted to the cap 58 on a horizontal pivot pin 59 for elevating and lowering movement is atone arm 65. The swinging movement of the tone arm is accomplished by partial rotating movement imparted to the sleeve by the arm 54 and associated mechanism. This, of course, acts through the rotatable cap 53 to swing the tone arm.

Tone arm elevating and lowering Rigidly mounted on the end of the shaft 3i (see Fig. 7) is a tone arm elevating cam 61 which has a low spot 62. The cam acts on a follower 63 formed on the end of a lever 64. The lever 54 is intermediately pivoted, as at 65, and has its other end pivotally connected to the lower end of the rod 55, as at 56. The rod 55 is slidably movable in the sleeve 55 and carries a pin 57 at its upper end which is engageable with the tone arm just ahead of the horizontal pivot 59. When the pin is pushed upwardly, which occurs when the follower 63 is on a high part of the cam 51 then the tone arm is elevated. This action also causes an upward pull on the lower end of the sleeve 59 and a movement of the arm 55 toward the bottom of the table. The arm 54 has an end formed with an upturned lug 68 (see Figs. 2, l4 and 15) which is adapted to frictionally bear against the underside of the table 15, as in Fig. 15, while the tone arm is in an elevated position. This acts as a brake to prevent the tone arm from swinging too freely while elevated.

The outer or lowermost cam 35, which cam is designated the record controlling cam, is formed with a peripheral portion 59 which is concentric With its axis of rotation (see Fig. 12). This concentric portion acts on a follower lug it carried by an intermediate portion of a lever l! to hold the lever in an outward position while the tone arm is being brought in toward the record and bein lowered. Following that, the follower l5 co-acts with a lower peripheral portion 752. The cam 35 is formed with a relatively deep drop-in recess 13 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The lever H is pivoted to the bottom of the table l5, as at T4, and has its opposite end 75 operable in a horizontal slot 18 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) of the bridge 53. Intermediate the follower lug I5 and the end 15, the lever H is formed with an offset part Ti which is normally engaged by a latch formed by a bent end 18 of a rod '19. When the end 18 is engaged in the offset 77, as in Fig. 5, then the follower iii is prevented from entering the deep drop-in recess '73.

The rod i9 has a transversely bent portion which is pivoted in a bracket Bl. The rod then extends upwardly, as at 82, and has a laterally bent end 83 (see Fig. 1)

A plate 84 which is pivoted, as at 85, is formed with an integral depending arm 86 (see Figs. 1 and 6). When there are still records 8? in the stack to be played, then the swinging plate 84 is held in the position of Fig. 6. However, after the last record of the stack 81 has been dropped, then gravity will cause the plate 84 to swing downwardly and the lower end of the extension to engage the bent end 83 of the rod 82. This will cause the engaging end i8 on the rod portion 19 beneath the table to release the lever H. This will then allow the spring 88 (see Fig. 5) to pull the lever 1| toward the right, referring to Fig. 5, when such action is otherwise permitted by the positions of the parts.

When the outer cam 36 has its high peripheral portion starting to engage the follower 10 on the lever H, then the lever will be swung in a direction so that its shoulder 89 acts on a short arm 90 (see Fig. 5). This arm has its inner end rigidly ans-iteconnected to a shaft 91. The shaft 91 (see Fig. 6') extends upwardly" through the table and through a tubular post 92. The upper end of the post 92 is connected to a plate 93 projecting from an upri htbracket'et. w I

Mounted on top of the plate 93 is a cut 'ofi disc 95 having opposite peripheral notches 96 and 91 (see Fig. 8). The upper end of the shaft 9| extends rotatably through the disc 05 and has its upper end ri idly connected to a wheel 98. The wheel 98 is rotatable in act-cum opening of a plate 90. The plate 99in turn supports for s1id= able movement a push=ofi plate I having a transverse slot IOI within which an eccentric pin I02 on the upper end of the wheel 98 acts. one, end of the push-"Off plate I0!) is" provided witha stepped record supporting edge forming a shoul= der I03 which is of Slightly less height than the thickness of a record, andthe opposite edge or the plate mo is formed with a simmer stepped record supporting edge having a record engaging shoulder I04.

When 10 inch records are being played, as in Fig. 6, the push off plate is in the position shown in Figs. 6 and 8 with the shoulder I03 engaging the edge of the bottornmost record in the stack.

The central portion of each record is, of course,

and the arm 90 of Fig. is swung by the lever 'I'I to partially rotate the vertical shaft 9'I, this will act through the eccentric pin I02 riding in the slot IOI of the push-off plate to push the plate toward the spindle from its position of Fig.6. This will act on the bottomrnost record only to move the center of the record out of its position of engagement with the shoulder 2| on the spindle.- The bottommost record will then fall onto the turntable 23.

When the disc 05 is being rotated from a 10 inch position to a 12 inch position, a rod I05 which extends downwardly from said disc (see Fig. 1) has its lower end movable in a semicircular slot I01 in the table. This will bring the lower end of the rod I06 to the oppositep'osition in the slot I0'I from that illustrated in Fig. 5. The end of the rod I06 projects sufliciently far below the table I5 so that when it is in the opposite position from that shown in Fig. 5, it will serve to limit the movement of the lever 38 so that the tone arm wiil be swung a lesser distance to be suitable for the playing of 12 inch records. A very accurate adjustment for record sizes may also be made through manipulation of the screw 4'I to provide for sliding of the stop 41' to a -selected position for engagement with the lower end of the rod I06. The arm 90 which controls the record dropping is normally urged to its normal position by a coil spring I08. The link 49 is connected by a spring I00 with the table, and this spring normally urges the lever 38 and link 49 to the position shown in Fig. 5. The stack feeler plate 84 is normally -urged in a downward direction by a coil spring,

The trip-017 mechanism A shifting lever I H (see Figs. 2 and 5) is pivoted at one end to the bottom of the table, as at H2, and has its opposite end pivotally connected, as at H3, to an intermediate portion of a trip-off bar H4. The lever III is guided in a slot II5 of a depending bracket II6 (see Figs. 3 and 4). Intermediate the length of the lever I I I is a pin I I! Y which is engageable in a groove I I8 of a collar on the shifting shaft 26 (see Fig. 2). Movement of the lever I II on its pivot will through the pin I I1 cause movement of the shifting shaft either towardthe left, referring to Fig. 2, to engage the clutch 29, toward the right to engage the clutch 30,- onto an intermediate neutral position.

The trip-off bar I'I4 has its upper edge, near one end, formed with a first shoulder II9 (see Figs. 4, 1-0 and 11) and with a second shoulder I20. The shoulders II9 and I are in stepped relationship with one another.

Pivoted, as at I 2|, to a lower corner of the bridge 53 is a trip oif lever I22 having a projection I23 which projects toward the bottom of the table and which is formed With a lateral pin I24. The movable end of the trip-off lever I22 is bent laterally, as at I25, and has an angled edge I25, for cooperation with a bell crank member I26 (see Figs. 5 and 16). When the member I26 is in the position of Fig. 5 it will hold the member I22 in a position pivoted away fro-m the bottom of the table. If the member I26, however, is swung to release the lug I25, then the spring i2? (see Fig. 4) .Will act to pull the trip-off lever I22 into contact with the bottom of the table. When this occurs, the pin I24 will engage the edge of the bar I I4 at one end thereof to tilt the opposit end of the bar upwardly. This action will also serve to allow the spring I52 to pull the bar H4 so that the position of the end I5 of the lever II changes from a position behind the first shoulder II!) (see Fig. 10) to a position as in Fig. 11.

The bell cranklever I26 is normally urged by a coil spring I28 to the position of Fig. 5. The 0pposite arm of the bell crank lever is in the form of a screw or roughened pin I29- An arm I30 which projects from the tone arm control sleeve 55, has a yieldingly pivoted dog I3I on its end. When the tone arm sleeve is being swung in one direction, the dog will slide inwardly along the screw I29 without effecting the position of the bell crank lever. However, when the tone arm sleeve is being pivoted in the opposite direction, the dog will press against the bolt 25 and pivot the bell crank a sufiicientdistance against the tension of the spring I28 to release the bent end Stack? reloading Referring to Figs. 1 and 9, the reloading frame includes spaced arms I3! which are pivoted to the table, as at I38, and which have depending lugs I39 formed with cam followers I 40. These followers cooperate with cams I4I mounted rigidly on opposite ends of a transverse shaft I42 below the table (see Fig. 2) The shaft I42 is equipped with a ring gear I43 which is adapted to be driven shaft having the clutch part 30. It is obvious that when the shifting shaft 23 is shifted toward the right in Fig. 2 that the shaft I42 and cams I4I will be driven. I

The reloading frame also includes a U-shaped releasing structure I45 which is pivoted to the ends of the arms I31, as at I46.

Below one of the arms I3'I is a parallel arm I48 which is mounted for movement in parallelogram fashion with the arm I37. The arm I48 is adapted to pass into and out of a slot I49 in the table and carries a tripping lug I50 which is adapted to co-act with the dog I32 on the end of the trip-off bar II4 when the reloading frame has been fully lowered after a reloading operation. The slot I49, as well as the corresponding slot I5I, on the opposite side of-the table are notched out properly to permit the cam followers I40 to pass to positions beneath the table.

Operation Assuming that there is a record on the turntable 23 and that the latter is rotating, and being played, the shifting shaft 26 is in neutral position so that neither of the clutches 29 or 30 is engaged. The remainder of a stack of records 81 is being supported on the spindle shoulder 2I and pushofi' plate I in the manner shown in Fig. 6. When the tone arm comes to the end of the record the needle will follow the usual trip-01f groove on the record. This groove, which spirals back, will on a backward spiral, act on the tone arm 60 to swing the rotatable cap 58 of Fig. '7 and partially rotate the sleeve 55 and swing the arm I30 of Fig. in a direction toward the outer end of the screw I29. During such movement the dog I3I will act on the screw to cause pivoting of the bell crank I23 against the tension of the spring I28 and release of the bent end I25 of the trip-ofi" lever I22. The spring 127, connected with the trip-off lever I22, will then snap this lever toward the bottom of the table I5. The edge I25 (see Fig. 16) of the lug I25 isso angled that it pivots the bell crank I26 outwardly and holds it in such position to give the dog I3I clearance from the screw I29. During such movement the pin I24 (see Figs. 4 and willjact'on the end of the bar II4 to pivot said end of the bar toward the bottom of the table as in Fig. 11. This will free the end I5 of the lever 'II from engagement with the first shoulder I I 9' on the tripoff bar I I4 and permit the spring I52 to pull the trip-off bar toward the right in Figs. 4 and 11 or toward the left in Fig. 2. This movement of the trip-off bar II4 toward the left in Fig. 2 acts through the shifting lever I II to slide the shifting shaft 26 into a position of engagement with the clutch 20. The two horizontal cams 35 and 36 and the vertical cam GI will now be rotated.

Referring to Figs. 5, 12 and 13, the cams 35 and 36 are being driven in a counter-clockwise direction. At this same time the tone arm elevating cam 6i, Fig. '7, rotates to a position wherein the high portion of its periphery engages the follower 63 to cause an upward push on the rod 56 and a raising of the tone arm off of the record. During this operation the end of the sleeve 55 is pulled upwardly and this in turn presses the bent end 58 of the arm 54 (see Fig. 2) into frictional engagement with the lower surface of the table. This acts as a brake to prevent the tone arm from swinging laterally to an undesired position. i

Following the raising of the tone arm, the cam rotates to a position where its peripheral part I53 engages the follower 31 on the lever 38. Inasmuch as this is a movement toward the high part of the cam, the lever 38 will be swung on its pivot 39 to exert a pull on the link 49 against the tension of the spring I09. This acts through the arm 54 to pivot the sleeve 55 and tone arm and cause a swinging of the tone arm while elevated from a position over the center of the record to a position beyond its periphery.

The outer cam 36 then moves the follower I0 on the lever II toward its high peripheral portion 69. This acts through the shoulder 89 on the lever II to push the arm 90 against the tension of the spring I08 and cause a partial rotation of the shaft-9|. Referring now to Fig. 6, rotation of the shaft 9| operates the eccentric pin I02 on the wheel 98 to push the record engaging shoulder H13 in a direction toward the turntable spindle and push the lowermost record off of the spindle shoulder 2 I. This record will now fall on top of the previous record on the turntable. At the same time the end- 15 of the lever 'II will act on the inner inclined edge I 22' of the member I22 to swing the latter away from the bottom of the table so that the bell crank lever I26 can snap in and hold it in cocked position.

The follower 31 on the lever 38 now starts to enter the low spot I55 of the inner cam 35. This causes a swinging of the tone arm toward the periphery'of the record just over the start of the sound track. At this point the end of the lever 33 engages the end of the slot 40 in the adjustment bracket 4I. This bracket is adjusted to a suitable location for the playing of 10 inch records. As before mentioned, if 12 inch records are to be played, the rotation of the push-off plate assembly 180 causes the pin I06 to be swung to the location in the slot I 01 shown in Fig. 2. When in this position, the lower end of the pin I06 forms a stop which prevents the lever 38 from being moved as far in the slot 40 as it is in Fig. 5. This position shown in Fig. 2 is suitable'for playing 12 inch records.

- As the follower 31 enters the low spot I55 of the inner cam 35, the vertical tone arm elevating cam 6| travels to the position of Fig. 7 allowing the'follower 63 to enter the low spot 62. This acts through the rod 53 to cause a lowering of the tone arm and a dropping of the needle into the beginning of the sound track on the record for the playing of the record. As soon as the tone arm is lowered to the position of Fig. 7, the pres-- sure on the tone arm brake 68 of Fig. 2 is released.

Referring now to the outermost cam 35, the cam follower I0 will follow the high peripheral portion 69 until it enters the low spot I56. This allows the spring 88 to pull on the end I5 of the lever TI tocause said end to press against said first shoulder I I9 on the bar I I4 to move said bar toward the right, referrin to Fig. 2, and place the shifting shaft 26 in a neutral position out of engagement with both clutches. The parts will remain hi this position while the record is being played and until the needle is acted on by the trip-off groove of the record as heretofore described.

The above procedure is repeated for each record until all of the records in the stack have been played. When the last record in the stack 81 is dropped; the pivoted feeler plate 84 will no longer be supported. The spring IIO will therefore pull the lowerend of the extension 85 into engagement with the bent end 83 of the upstanding rod 82. This causes an upward pivoting of the latching end I8 (see 7 I8 is no longer engaged with the lever II. Nothstopped by the block I36. movement the dog I32 on the end of the bar II4 moves into engagement with the tripping lug I50, as is illustrated in Fig. 9. As soon as the clutch 3!! is engaged, the shaft I42 starts rotating to rotate the cams I4! simultaneously. As the cams 9 Fig. 6) so that said latch ing, however, takes place as a result of this release-until the playing of the last record has been completed and the machine has tripped off to throw the shifting shaft I26 into clutch engagement at 29 with the parts in the position of Fig. 11. Following this procedure, then when the lowermost portion I3 of the outer cam 36 is opposite the follower I0, then because the lever II is no longer limited in its movement by the latch I8, the follower I is pulled by the spring 88 all the way into the low spot I3. While this takes place the follower 31 of the other cam 35 enters a recess I6! (see Fig. 13) to relieve the torsional friction in the clutch 29 so that it will disengage and permit the follower I0 to enter the low spot I3 and permit a movement of the shifting shaft 26 to the other side. This causes the end I of the lever II to act against the shoulder I20 onthe bar I I4 to move the bar and shifting lever I I I in a direction to cause engagement of the shifting shaft 26 with the clutch 30. During such movement the bar H4 is so pivoted as not-to be rotate in a clockwise direction, referring to Fig. 9, the followers 48 on the reloading frame will first follow the peripheral portion I 59 which is of increased height. This will cause a swinging of the frame upwardly from the position of Fig. 9 tothe position of Fig. 1 to elevate the entire stack of records which was formerly supported on the turntable. At the start of such elevating movement, the lug I50 on the bar I 41 will snap past the dog I32. The action of the swinging frame is such that during elevating movement from the position of Fig. 9 to the position of Fig. 1, the

structure I45 tends to draw across beneath the lowermost record to pull the records into enga' ement with the side :I 65 (see Fig. 6) of the spindle. Thus, as the records are pulled outwardly when they move upalong the curved portion 20 of the spindle, the holes of the records will be kept in contact with the side I65 of the spindle to be sure to clear the edge I03 of the push-off plate on the upswing. If it were not for this action then, due to the variation in size of center holes, some records might fail to clear. After the records have been fully elevated, the shape of the cams MI is such that. the stack will be slowly Also,- during such;

' above the inner end I5 of the lever 1 I.

10 bar 4. Such tilting will move the shoulders I I9 and I away from the and I5 of the lever II and the lower edge of the bar I I4 will engage This permits the spring I52 to pull the bar II4 toward the left, referring to Fig. 2, to engage the clutch 29 and disengage the clutch 30. Following this procedure, the horizontal cam 36 acts on the follower I0 which has previously been in the low notch I3 to move the lever II through a relatively wide arc and cause the end I5 to move to the right, referrin to Fig. 4, beyond the shoulder I I9. This same movement also acts through angled edge I22 on the lever I22 to move the latter away from the bottom of the table and permit the bell crank I26 to snap in between the bent end I and the table. At the same time, the lever II moves to the high part of the cam to cause a push on the arm 90 and a dropping of the first record onto the turntable.

The block I36 (see Fig. 4) isso positioned that during the process of shifting into neutral it will positively prevent the bar. I I4 from so moving as successively placed inplaying position on said lowered. During such lowering the. reloading structure I45 will move across the bottomof the lowermost record in the opposite direction than it did during elevating. This tends to constantly urge the holes in the records into contact with the spindle side I66 (see Fig. 6) so that the edge of the lowermost record will be caught by the ledge I03 and so that the center of the lowermost record will be supported on the spindle shoulder 2I. It is thus apparent that the shape of the spindle, together with the action of the swinging frame, insures clearance of the push-off plate on the upswing and insures interception of the records during lowering. After the records have been supported, as in Fig. 6, the reloading frame will continue downwardly toward the fully lowered position of Fig. 9. When this occurs the lug I50 will press against the end of the dog I32. Inasmuch as the do cannot pivot in this direction of movement, this will cause a tilting of the turntable, the combination therewith of a reloading structure partially embracing the periphery of said turntable below'the lowermost record thereon. a pair of lifting arms pivoted to said phonograph at one end thereof and to said structure at the other end thereof, a cam member carried by said phonograph operably engaging said lifting arms intermediate their pivoted ends for raising said. structure to elevate the records; from the turntableto a position above said support and lower said structure to deposit said records th reon. 5

2. In an automatic phonograph having a turntable of less diameter than the records to be placed thereon and a support associated therewith for receiving a plurality of records to be succ'essively placed in playing position on said turntable, the comb nation therewith of a U-sha ed reloading structure extending about the periphery of said turntable normally" positioned below the lowermost record-thereona pair of lifting arms each having one end thereof pivotally connected with opposite sides of said structure, respectively, and their other ends pivotally anchored to said phonograph, a cam mounted on said phonograph in position to cause said arms to raise and lower said structure, a movable feeler normally supported against movement by gravity by the top record on said support, and means initiated by a release of said feeler after the top record on said support has been placed on said turntable for actuating said cams to raise and lower said structure and the records engaged thereby for reception by said support.

3. In an automatic phonograph having a fixed spindle provided with a supporting shoulder for engaging the inner edge of a center opening of the lowermost record of a stack to provide a central support therefor, a shelf for peripherally supporting said stack of records through engagement therewith of the peripheral edge of the lowermost record, and a turntable rotatable about said spindle for successively receiving records from said stack to be played, the combination therewith of a reloading structure normally positioned below the lowermost record on the turntable, lifting arms pivotally supported on said phonograph each having their movable ends pivotally con nected with said structure for swinging said frame from its normal position to an elevated position with an arcuate movement in one direction upon being elevated and lowering said structure to normal position through an arcuate movement in the opposite direction, and mechanism operable to raise and lower said arms, the arcuate movement of said structure in one direction durin elevation thereof being adapted to direct the stack of records being elevated free of said shelf and the arcuate movement of said structure in the opposite direction upon being lowered causing said stack of records to be engaged with said supporting shoulder and shelf for interception thereby.

4. In an automatic phonograph having a support for a stack of records to be played comprising a shouldered spindle and a shelf spaced therefrom for supporting engagement with the central and lateral portions of said records, respectively, and a turntable rotatable about said spindle below said supports for successively receiving records therefrom, said spindle being bowed laterally intermediate said turntable and its supporting shoulder, the combination therewith of a reloading structure normally embracing said turntable below the outer edge of the lowermost record thereon, and mechanism operable upon the last record of the stack being played to elevate said structure for raising the stack of records upon the turntable to a position above said shouldered support and shelf and lowering said structure to its normal position about said turntable, said mechanism including a linkage between said structure and phonograph for causing said structure to swing upwardly in a direction to pull said records against the bowed portion of said spindle free of said supporting shelf to avoid interference therewith, and in the opposite direction upon being lowered to move said stack of records laterally in a direction to be intercepted by said shouldered spindle and supporting shelf.

5. In a record changer for phonographs of the drop type including a base plate, a support for holding a stack of records above a turntable rotatable over said base plate to be individually released and dropped thereon into playing position,

and means operable to effect such release, the combination therewith of a reloading structure including a pair of spaced lifting arms pivotally supported at one end to said base plate extending thereover to embrace opposite sides of said turntable in the plane thereof and below the lowermost record thereon, a record engaging and lifting means normally lying in the plane of said turntable at opposite sides thereof and pivotally supported on the free ends of said arms below said record for direct engagement therewith to raise it onto said support, and power means in operable engagement with said arms to swing them upwardly for elevating said lowermost and superimposed records onto said support and downwardly to normal position.

6. In a record changer for phonographs of the drop type including a base plate, a support for holding a stack of records above a turntable rotatable over said base plate to be individually released and dropped thereon into playing position, and means operable to effect such release, the combination therewith of a reloading structure including a pair of spaced lifting arms pivotally supported at one end to said base plate extending thereover to'embrace opposite sides of said turntable in the plane thereof and below the lowermost record thereon, a record engaging and lifting means normally lying in the plane of said turntable at opposite sides thereof and pivotally supported on the free ends of said arms below said record for direct engagement therewith to raise it onto said support, power means in operable engagement with said arms to swing them upwardly for elevating said lowermost and superimposed records onto said support and downwardly to normal position, and a guide member connected with said record engaging and lifting means to move upwardly and downwardly therewith to maintain said last-mentioned means in parallel relation to said turntable during the upward and downward swinging movement thereof.

ARNOLD E. RISTAU. ALFRED G. RISTAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 7

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,017,898 Gates Oct. 22, 1935 2,178,260 Kohn Oct. 31, 1939 2,287,560 Osborne et al June 23, 1942 2,332,650 Knox et al Oct. 26, 1943 2,343,992 Morrison Mar. 14, 1944 

